The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Students come up big for ailing dog
North Ridgeville Academic students raise money for rescued dog
After raising funds to help support a foster dog’s surgery, eighth-grade students at the North Ridgeville Academic Center, 34620 Bainbridge Road, had the chance to meet and name the dog March 1.
The dog, a bichon the students named “Q-Tip,” was a homeless dog taken in by the Friendship Animal Protective League and was scheduled to have a $1,200 surgery.
“She was scheduled to have an eye taken out due to a birth defect that would have led to an infection,” said Greg Willey, president of the Friendship Animal Protective League. “The surgery was a success.”
Wiley said he was blown away by the generosity of the students.
“They real l y came through and helped out this dog,” he said. “They ended up raising over $4,000, which was enough to support another dog’s spinal surgery.
“This is something really special. I’m very thankful to all the students in the school that helped raise money.”
Nikki Roth, an adviser at the Academic Center, said the event came about when the school was looking for charities to help.
“We brought the idea before the student council,” Roth said. “A vast majority wanted to do this one for the APL.
“The students really got behind the charity and went above and beyond what we originally thought.”
Roth said the event was changed a bit based on what donors were giving.
“We had students really trying to give more than the other groups and win,” she said. “The group that gave the most was originally going to be the only ones who got to see and pet the dog, along with getting to name it.
“We had to change this when the winning group, these eighth graders, gave $667, and the second place group gave $656.15. We felt the other group should get to see the dog as well, so we are going to make multiple stops.
“It was a great schoolwide effort, and it was for a good cause.”